Spicy jjukkumi set for two, 30,000 won in Jeonju: Jjukkumi Sinhwa

What kind of restaurant is Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch?

Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch is a spicy baby octopus stir-fry restaurant tucked inside the Inhu-dong food alley in Jeonju. When it comes to spicy jjukkumi in Jeonju, everyone already knows this old-school local favorite. Today I went back with my partner for lunch at this Ajung-ri, Jeonju spot that's known for doing jjukkumi right. The exterior alone screams neighborhood favorite. Let me introduce Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch, where you can enjoy a generous helping of spicy jjukkumi!!

Parking and how to get to Jjukkumi Sinhwa in Inhu-dong

There's a private parking lot right behind the restaurant, so driving there is easy, but there's also a bus stop just 2 minutes on foot, so it's convenient by public transit too.

Inside Jjukkumi Sinhwa: seating and the self-serve side dish corner

We parked and headed in for lunch, and sure enough, being a popular spot, it was almost fully seated. Still, the place was clean and tidy as ever.

Extra side dishes and sauces are available to grab yourself from the self-serve corner, and after reading the table's guide on how to enjoy jjukkumi properly, I found that pairing it with perilla leaves or garlic sauce made it even better.

What we ordered at Jjukkumi Sinhwa and what it cost

Looking at the menu at Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa, there's a dish called hwasan jjukkumi (volcano octopus) that combines beef belly and octopus, plus another version with shrimp added, among other tasty options. I also liked that if you order jjukkumi for takeout, you get double the portion with no side dishes.

• Spicy jjukkumi (for 2) ₩30,000
• Cheese fried rice (for 2) ₩6,000

Today we went with the plain jjukkumi-only option!

Side dishes and the garlic sauce that tames the heat

A nicely arranged table of side dishes came out, and a staff member stir-fried the jjukkumi all the way through for us.

Bean sprout soup, which pairs well with spicy jjukkumi, and seasoned bean sprouts good for topping onto a wrap, come as basic side dishes.

The pickled radish is essential too, especially eaten together with perilla leaves. Personally, my favorite is topping perilla leaves with pickled radish.

They serve a garlic sauce here that goes really well with the jjukkumi! Crisp salad works as an appetizer while the jjukkumi cooks, and steamed egg is a must when eating spicy jjukkumi!

How spicy is the hot-plate jjukkumi at Jjukkumi Sinhwa?

The pan arrived loaded with jjukkumi and vegetables. As it bubbled away, the staff kindly kept stir-frying it all the way through, so we could just relax and talk. It'd actually be easy to feed a kid at this point in the cooking.

Once everything was fully cooked, you're supposed to eat the jjukkumi first, but today I was drawn to the chewy sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) and cabbage instead. I tried them one by one — both go really well with the seasoning.

I finally took a bite of the chewy jjukkumi — I'd say it's spicier than Shin Ramyeon! It's the kind of flavor you keep going back for, but if you're not great with spice, try adding the garlic sauce. The moment the garlic sauce hits it, it mellows out and the flavor gets even richer!

Wrapping jjukkumi with bean sprouts and pickled radish in perilla leaves also makes for a delicious bite! Skipping the garlic sauce would be a real shame!!

Finishing the meal with 6,000-won cheese fried rice

After stir-frying jjukkumi in the pan, you can't skip the dessert round — fried rice cooked up with the leftover octopus and sauce, topped with cheese. I always feel a little sad if I skip the fried rice at the end.

They put cheese in the middle and cover it with the fried rice, and the stretchy cheese pulling up adds a mellow richness. Wrapping the fried rice in perilla leaves — that's a proper lunch done right today.

Is Jeonju Jjukkumi Sinhwa Ajung-ri Main Branch worth a visit?

A go-to Ajung-ri, Jeonju spot that locals visit often, great for a spicy jjukkumi lunch. Since the staff does all the cooking for you, it's an easy, relaxed place to enjoy while chatting.